Land along the southern edge of Florida Avenue and 9th Street. Courtesy of Google Maps.

Last night at the Thurgood Marshall Center in Shaw, the ANC 2C Design Review Committee approved the concept and massing for The JBG Companiesmixed-use residential project on three parcels of land that the developer purchased along Florida Avenue between 7th and 9th Streets NW.

JBG is planning five stories of apartments, ground floor retail and underground parking for the parcels and has hired Seattle-based Miller Hull Architects for the design. The two buildings will be modern, metal and glass structures with a staggered-looking facade. The retailers being courted are “quiet” businesses, such as yoga studios, dry cleaners and a food market like Trader Joe’s (which was rumored to be coming to their project on the southwest corner of 14th and U Street). JBG’s Lauren Jezienicki mentioned that the firm was taking cues from the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn for retail ideas.

The Design Review Committee members and the residents present were not too crazy about the design, which some felt was “not friendly,” and “cold” but the committee approved the concept (apartments/retail, modern design) and massing (size) of the new project. JBG will meet with the Historic Preservation office later this week about the development, and UrbanTurf aims to publish a new rendering on Friday.

JBG, who was reported to be DC’s top property tax payer in 2011, has a lot of plans for the 14th Street/U Street Corridor. Read more about what is in the works below.